1971-73 NU Pro-Tennis Proposal

On April 20, 1971 NU filed an appeal for a variation to permit professional tennis matches to be played at McGaw hall (ZBA case 13-71-A). The case took over six years to be resolved. On September 19, 1977 the City Council voted unanimously against NU's appeal.

Below: Case 13-71-A 1971 timeline.

The following PDF includes documents from the 1971 case 13-71-A.

• p.3-6: (March 4) Appeal for Zoning variation
• (p. 6-12 never existed)
• p. 13-14 : (March 24) Interdepartmental memo (Dyche Stadium off-street parking)
• p.15-21: (April 20) ZBA
• p.22-26: Official notices; NU description of athletic facilities
• p.27: Tennis tournaments stats (1969, 1970,1971)
• p. 28-36: (April 30- July 12) Re. use of precedent
• p.37-41: (July 26- December 2) City Councils
• p. 42: (December 11) Interdepartmental memo about the seating capacity of McGaw Hall/ Dyche Stadium and the parking capacity of the lots
• p.43-44: (December 13-20) City Councils

Note: In 1971 the ZBA approved the tennis tournament. To justify their decision, the ZBA used as precedent the previous tennis tournaments, which were short in duration ( 2-4 days) and the financial plight of NU. The ZBA claimed there would be no detrimental traffic effect on the neighborhood, however the lots held 4,275 parking spaces. Also they claimed no property value loss, but the 1971 Tech Search Report proved them wrong

1971 Tec-Search Reports

The ZBA further stated:

"The board further finds, however, that the variation should be granted only in light of the assurance of the appellant before this Board that such variation shall not be used as an argument or precedent for future commercial use of university facilities including Dyche Stadium."

Below: April 22, 1971 Interdepartmental Memorandum to Corporation Counsel Jack Siegel re. precedent.

Below: the City Council 1973, January 22 , 1973 Docket 120-7D-71:

This docket reappeared in the exact wording at the January 29, February 5, February 12, and February 19 Council meetings.

Frank Hoover's proposed U2 ordinance in December 10, 1973 did include in the subject line the tennis docket

1973-74 Docs Re. U2 Ordinance

Docket 120-7D-71:

Consideration of the Zoning Board of Appeal's recommendation that the City Council grant the appeal of Northwestern University for a variation from the use regulations of the zoning ordinance to permit professional tennis matches to be played on the property at 1501 Central Street, subject to the following conditions:

• 1. that the use variation shall be limited to that portion of the university district known as McGaw Hall;
• 2. that the appellant's acceptance of the variation shall constitute an agreement that said variation shall not be used as a precedent or agreement for the use of the university property for commercial purposes including, but not limited to, the use of Dyche Stadium for professional football, soccer, or other professional athletic contests;
• 3. that Northwestern university shall submit to the City a written statement in a form approved by the Corporation Counsel and suitable for recording, setting forth the fact that the university agree that the granting of the variation shall not constitute a precedent or argument for subsequent use of Dyche Stadium or other university property for professional athletics, including, but not limited to, football, soccer, or the use of other university facilities for commercial purposes; and
• 4. that no more than two professional tennis tournaments per year shall be permitted in McGaw Hall, and the City shall have the right to temporarily ban parking on streets within McGaw area if required in connection with the tennis matches.

The property is zoned U2 University District. If the City Council concurs with the Zoning Board's recommendation, proposed ordinance 66-O-71 is available for introduction. A copy of the Board's report, ZBA 13-71-A, was transmitted for the July 26, 1971 meeting. (Referred 12/20/1972)